The Lemon Index$317 middle bill · most between $197 and $900
261 owner reports on 104 models
Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Civic
Owners reported paying a median of $317 for a car battery replacement, with the middle half of bills between $197 and $900. That's 261 owner reports on 104 models (246 complaints to NHTSA and 15 YouTube videos). Costs vary by shop and region.
What owners paid
- Under $50062%
- $500–$1,00015%
- $1,000–$2,50011%
- $2,500–$5,0008%
- $5,000 and up5%
Share of the 261 owner reports in each price band.
Cars where it comes up most
Owner reports per model. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more reports.
Every model, what owners paid
| Model | Reports | Middle bill | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Outback | 18 | $171 | $152–$192 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 11 | $350 | $248–$575 |
| Honda Civic | 9 | $385 | $150–$2,800 |
| Ford Fusion | 7 | $500 | $155–$1,800 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 7 | $388 | $183–$442 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 6 | $270 | $243–$622 |
| Honda Pilot | 6 | $500 | $425–$856 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 6 | $484 | $262–$741 |
| Ford Bronco Sport | 5 | $350 | $300–$510 |
| Kia Optima | 5 | $1,100 | $897–$1,800 |
| Nissan Rogue | 5 | $300 | $250–$367 |
| Ram pickup | 5 | $1,000 | $1,000–$1,500 |
| Toyota Camry | 5 | $1,200 | $511–$2,200 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Chrysler Town & Country | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Ford Explorer | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Honda Accord | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Honda Odyssey | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Mini Cooper | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Nissan Altima | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Toyota Prius | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Chevrolet Cruze | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Chevrolet Impala | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Chevrolet Volt | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Dodge Durango | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Dodge Journey | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Hyundai Tucson | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Subaru Forester | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Subaru Legacy | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Tesla Model Y | 3 | too few for a range | |
Models with 3+ reports. A model gets its own page and a range at 5+ reports. 71 more models with 1–2 reports count in the totals above.
Related repairs
Wiring harness repair $1,200 · ECM (engine computer) replacement $1,200 · TIPM replacement $1,100 · Airbag module and clock spring replacement $590 · Radio and infotainment screen repair $1,500 · Alternator replacement $800 · Window regulator replacement $400 · Starter replacement $788
The details
How we count
Every number here is a repair bill an owner reported, never a shop's price list. Two sources: the bills owners wrote in their own complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), and the dollar amounts owners said out loud in YouTube repair and ownership videos. A figure counts for a repair when that repair is the part named nearest to it. Left out: purchase prices, payments, rentals, towing, warranties and deductibles, amounts under $50 or over $15,000, parts-only prices ("the part was $80 on Amazon"), bills for two different repairs named together, and money someone else paid. One number per complaint (or video) and repair: the biggest, so it's the bill, not the diagnosis fee.
The range is the middle half of the bills (the 25th to the 75th percentile), so one wild number can't swing it. Owners who complain to the government often had expensive repairs, so a typical bill can be lower. Costs vary by shop and region, by dealer vs independent shop, by parts and by miles. This is what owners reported, not a quote for your car.
Check the bills yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11777546, 11776537, 11775936, 11775489, 11772184, 11771139, 11771013, 11771007, 11768043, 11767215, 11758851, 11750373 and more.
Said out loud on YouTube: $150 ▶ · $160 ▶ · $200 ▶ · $250 ▶ · $300 ▶ · $350 ▶ · $600 ▶ · $600 ▶
Quick answers
How much does a car battery replacement cost?
Owners reported a median of $317, and the middle half paid $197 to $900, from 261 owner reports on 104 models. Costs vary by shop and region.
Which cars need a car battery replacement most?
The most owner reports come from the Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Civic. These are raw counts: popular models get more reports, so this isn't a failure rate.
Why do car battery replacement costs vary so much?
Shop labor rates differ by region, dealers usually charge more than independent shops, new, used and rebuilt parts cost different amounts, and some bills include other work done at the same time.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 246 complaints to NHTSA and 15 YouTube videos: the repair bills owners themselves reported. Owner reports, not a price quote.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints and YouTube videos (amounts said out loud), sorted by The Lemon Index. Owner reports, not a price quote. Costs vary by shop and region.